Issues in the Expansion and Institutionalization of ALNs at the University of California

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• Issues in the Expansion and Institutionalization
  of ALNs at the University of California
• Fifth ALN Conference
• University of Maryland
• October 9, 1999
• Mary Beth Almeda, Director
• Center for Media Independent Learning, UC
  Extension

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Purpose of Online Program

• Extensions Strategic Goal
• To increase the University of Californias
  capacity to serve learners by providing expanded
  opportunities for learning services and expanded
  choices of what, when, where, and how best to
  learn.

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A Collaboration

• UC Berkeley Extension
• 3,000 courses, 70,000 registrations
• 30 Professional Certificate Programs
• UC Extensions statewide Center for Media and
  Independent Learning
• 80 years of distance education experience
• Course development and publishing expertise
• Support services for distance students and
  instructors

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Unique Characteristics of UC Extension Online

• Broad curriculum
• Certificate programs and curricula
• National audience
• Designed for adult students
• University of California quality and reputation

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First Online Project

• Certificate Program in Hazardous Materials
  Management
• Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in Fall
  1994, 500,000
• 9 courses in statewide curriculum
• Launched January 1996
• Leveraged infrastructure by adding 16 courses on
  our own nickel

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Online Program Main Screen
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Expanded Online Program

• 175 courses
• 25 available at the end of the first project
• Sloan funded development of 100 more courses in
  Fall 1996, 2 million
• UC Extension will develop another 50 courses from
  funds generated by program
• Enrollment projections are 6,000-10,000 when all
  courses are available
• Enrollments to date exceed 4,100

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Internet Site Main Screen
http//learn.berkeley.edu
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Whats Available Now

• 106 online courses
• 3-4 new courses opening each month
• 5 professional certificate programs available
  online
• Computer Information Systems
• Hazardous Materials Management
• Marketing
• Business Administration
• Project Management

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Course Sequences

• Business
• Computer science
• General education/enrichment
• Internet-related
• Public health
• Teacher training
• Telecommunications
• Writing

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Key Features of the Online Program

• Education on demand
• Asynchronicity and ongoing nature of
  instruction
• Instructor as tutor-facilitator (vs. lecturer)
• Interactivity
• Student community
• Delivery either on America Online or via Internet

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Enrollments
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Elements of Program Development

• Curriculum design
• Instructor selection, training, and support
• Course development
• System platform and delivery
• Course production
• Student/instructor infrastructure
• Marketing

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Issues in Expansion of ALNs

• Institutionalization of curriculum and course
  selection
• Campus acceptance and approval
• Effective instructor selection, training, and
  support
• Maximized instructional design

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Issues in Expansion of ALNs (contd)

• Streamlined course development and production
• Scalable and effective student support
• Quality assurance measures
• Mechanisms for agile responses to fast-evolving
  program needs

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Institutionalization of Curriculum and Course
Selection

• Develop a process for decision making
• Determine selection parameters
• Develop process for stakeholder participation

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Course Selection Criteria

• Appropriate for online delivery
• Strong traditional format enrollments
• Part of a curriculum
• Involve a campus course or professor
• Funds for development available
• Subject of great public (student) interest

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Campus Acceptance and Approval

• Academic program review
• Results of program visibility
• Addressing faculty concerns regarding efficacy,
  quality, and appropriateness
• Serving as campus resource
• Evaluation
• Student
• Instructor

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Effective Instructor Selection, Training, and
Support
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Maximized Instructional Design

• Develop processes to ensure
• consistency of design
• quality control
• Use a team process
• Manage the design complexities of online courses

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Streamlined Course Development and Production

• Common course look and feel
• Development guidelines
• Maintain flexibility and encourage creativity
  while meeting aggressive production timelines
• Continuous process improvement

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AOL Online Classroom
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InternetOnline Classroom
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Scalable and Effective Student Support

• Develop and modify infrastructures and policies
  to support student success
• Technical support
• Administrative support
• Staff training

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Quality Assurance Measures

• Develop strategies for ensuring that
• course design and instruction are optimized
• students have excellent learning experiences
• Get feedback from instructors and students
• Improve processes continuously

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Mechanisms for Agile Responses to Fast-Evolving
Program Needs

• Staff development
• External relationships
• Outsourcing and contracting for services

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External Relationships

• Goals
• Increased enrollments
• Services
• Delivery
• Marketing
• Other
• Development funding

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Selection of AOL as Service Provider

• Comparable demographics
• Leverage national marketing efforts
• Ease of use
• Runs on all major hardware platforms
• Available nationwide (and beyond)
• Internet access
• Course-specific software and services
• Market-driven

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Knowledge Project Agreement

• UC provides
• credibility to start-up company
• courses on our Internet site
• direct enrollment from KP site
• Knowledge Project provides
• portal and marketing
• funding for translation of AOL courses to the
  Internet
• development funds to design new, mutually-agreed
  courses

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Other Relationships

• Special audiences
• International
• High school
• Licenses

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For More Information...

• On AOL, keyword ucx
• ASKCMIL_at_aol.com
• http//learn.berkeley.edu/
• mbalmeda_at_uclink.berkeley.edu